[PopcornMegaphone]

Thread intent: Do you think MS is following a successful business strategy for next gen?

Thread delivers: Let me tell you why I don't like Microsoft with my very narrow viewpoint.

[OldJadedGamer]

Sony was still putting games out at the same time though. More than just Halo or Gears year after year. And they weren't focusing on a garbage peripheral.

I'm talking PS1. What you complained about was the strategy used against Nintendo and Sega. Back in the day that was proven very successful.

[bangai-o]

Microsoft is doomed threads are so wierd. Like when a Sony is doomed thread happens it is usually about studios closing down and losing billions of dollars or games taking 6 years to develop. A Microsoft doomed thread is about xbox live having millions of subscribers and selling the most units. I wonder what doom prophecy Halo 4 will bring.

[Derrick01]

I'm talking PS1.

So was I.

[OldJadedGamer]

So was I.

Sony wouldn't be in the industry today if they didn't fund third party development from publishers to compete with Nintendo's first party library. Something you said was poor form yet obviously very successful.

As proven by Windows, MS is not good at coming up with original ideas but are great at perfecting ones used by other companies.

[Bgamer90]

core oriented arcade games as retail releases. that is what is ridiculous to me. hey lets put fez on a disc and quell the core gamers complaining about a lack of exclusive games. i understand that it supports your viewpoint to categorize a core oriented arcade title in the same realm as a full fledged game or exclusive software. i don't share that view, and find it ridiculous. but yeah, a camry and a 911 are both cars..

lol I'm sorry but that's very shallow and is pretty hypocritical.

So it isn't about having core exclusive games... it's about having movie-like action packed core exclusives!

If all you want are big budget AAA core games then it shouldn't be a surprise to you as to why MS isn't making them this late into the gen considering how much of a risk it would be financially putting one up against the big name 3rd party games and Halo.

[Bgamer90]

Microsoft is doomed threads are so wierd. Like when a Sony is doomed thread happens it is usually about studios closing down and losing billions of dollars or games taking 6 years to develop. A Microsoft doomed thread is about xbox live having millions of subscribers and selling the most units.

heh, never realized this until now but that's pretty spot on for most of the "MS is doomed" threads that I've been in.

[Bgamer90]

Thread intent: Do you think MS is following a successful business strategy for next gen? Thread delivers: Let me tell you why I don't like Microsoft with my very narrow viewpoint.

Pretty much. (Sorry for the triple post)

[Vorg]

but Sony did put out a garbage peripheral.

The difference being that one of those garbage peripherals can actually be used for something other than dancing games. Move is actually precise and you can play hardcore games with it.

[Bgamer90]

The difference being that one of those garbage peripherals can actually be used for something other than dancing games. Move is actually precise and you can play hardcore games with it.

Gunstringer and Child of Eden are good non-dancing kinect games that aren't casual (imo).

[bangai-o]

The difference being that one of those garbage peripherals can actually be used for something other than dancing games. Move is actually precise and you can play hardcore games with it.

no the difference is that one is in the garbage and the other is selling.

[Dr. Kitty Muffins]

Apps are the future boon of the industry, however, Kinect is just a fad that will only serve to drive up the cost of the new Xbox needlessly. 5 years after the launch of the next Xbox, MS will regret sticking Kinect 2.0 in there.

[Vorg]

no the difference is that one is in the garbage and the other is selling.

Well I don't really give a shit about it either way. I have none and I want to keep it that way. Given a choice though, I'd rather pick something that I could actually use to play games.

[Agent X]

Wow, this thread is going downhill fast.

To try to answer the question: I don't know that much about their overall strategy. I'm sure they're keeping their cards close to their chest. On the bright side, Microsoft has proven over the years that they can be a dynamic company, capable of adapting different strategies as the market changes. The downside of this is that (at least for gaming) Microsoft tends to be a "follower" much more frequently than a "leader", and doesn't take as many risks.

Kinect: I don't think the current Kinect is a very good product. It's too laggy and limited for gaming use, and this shows in the games that have been released for it. However, it looks like Microsoft's going to stick with it for the long term. I'd like to see them put out an improved version of the camera, one that has quicker response and more accurate detection, and pair it up with some sort of handheld motion controller (like the Wii Remote or Move).

Apps: I guess this is OK, but I've got mixed feelings. I don't want them to take their eye off of gaming to concentrate too much on non-gaming apps. As for the apps themselves, most of what I've seen so far are video services. It's good to have a slate of video services, but these are available on a multitude of machines, and are frequently cheaper and/or better on the other machines.

There's also no reason they need to lock away so many of these apps behind the paywall of an Xbox Live subscription. Who wants to pay an added fee for Netflix access, when the PS3 does it equal or better without the extra fee? If someone doesn't want a "game machine" like PS3 or a Wii for Netflix (I'd imagine Wii U will have HD Netflix as well), then they could nab a Roku for less than the cost of a year of an Xbox Live service. Read that again--for less than the cost of one year of "unlocking access" to Netflix on Microsoft's machine, you could get the whole damn machine from a competitor.

The point here? Most people aren't buying Xbox 360s for the video services. They're buying the video services and just happen to be using them on whatever equipment they've got handy. Nobody says that they're "watching Xbox 360" or "watching PlayStation 3", they're "watching Netflix" or "watching Hulu".

It's good that they have the apps to add to the usefulness of the system, but they need to find a way to do something extra special that you can't already get cheaper and/or better elsewhere. Remember when they showed the Bing search with Kinect last year? They should expand that so that it doesn't require Kinect, and doesn't require Xbox Live. (I don't know whether it actually requires Xbox Live or not...the point is that it shouldn't). Let people use their regular headset microphones for voice recognition if they want to. Let people use keyboards if they want to. I understand the reason why they want to make Kinect a requirement (to use that as a feature to "sell" Kinects), but I believe people would probably find it more impressive if the system was equally responsive to the $15 headset that's hooked to the game controller, or the Bluetooth headset that they already use with their mobile phones.

Finally, they do need to bolster their first-party output. Of the three major video game hardware makers, they have by far the weakest stable of internal developers. It might not matter much now, but their position in the market now (at least in the US) is such mainly because Sony made some missteps early in the generation, and Nintendo made some missteps late in the generation. It will be interesting to see if Wii U pulls in some major hardcore games early on, and if they can get their online system up to snuff. Like I said, Microsoft is good at adapting, but they need to be proactive and not reactive. Third-party games and video apps are rapidly appearing on every shiny new machine with a screen. It's going to ultimately come down to the first-party games and services that define the systems.

[Brad Grenz]

Video apps will not be a significant factor next gen. For the price of one year of Live Gold you can buy a Roku today with far better app support, that is silent, launches services instantly and uses a tiny fraction of the power. MS can not expect Crackle or SyFy webisodes to motivate a $400 purchase, let alone an ongoing subscription. Netflix and Hulu were a big hit on consoles because it was an awesome way to use a system you already own for a great service. For that matter, why by a 720 for apps if they're already on the 360 you own?

So they'll either need to hope the interest in Kinect hasn't burnt out by the time they launch the new version, and leaning hard on casuals will be problematic if it isn't priced for casuals. Or they can go after the hard core again which will be difficult without the pricing and first to market advantages the 360 enjoyed (nor the ease of development advantage, if rumors are to be believed).

[TheOddOne]

Many of these studios are creating Kinect or XBLA games. Hopefully one or two of them is actually working on next-gen. 343 seems to have worked out well for them, given how good Halo 4 looks so far. But my point still remains that many of these studios are completely unknown factors. We'll have to wait and see, but I hope for Microsoft's sake that some of them do follow in 343's footsteps in terms of being a new, core oriented studio.

You are deliberately avoiding crucial points to make your arguments seem stronger.

We know that the Gears of War partnership is moving forth to the next generation, Lionhead is creating a new franchise, Rare is prepping for two new franchises, Microsoft Studios Vancouver is prepping a new franchise, we know they are setting aside a huge budget for core games and they are creating more studios. These are all for the next generation. Whether they are triple AAA is something we can’t say before hand, much like the other first party manufactures, but the point is they are investing in the future.

This preemptive way of looking at future makes no sense, you have done this before and avoiding any discussion on it being a flawed way to make illogical statement look logical. The biggest problem with your reasoning is that Microsoft is doomed regardless of anything pointing the other direction. You intertwine much of your own preference into your arguments, that any other way is in your eyes the wrong way to look at a subject that has multiple angles. The current market longevity, the problem with introducing new IP and the changing landscapes of what people expect of consoles are not even taken into account.

A quality of a game can also never be known before hand, even with a very strong developer. We might know it is a triple AAA game by the production quality is put behind it, but this does not say anything about quality of the actual game (in terms of gameplay, story, characters etc). This whole notion of downplaying brings nothing to the table and is tiresome, for every console manufacture.

Video apps will not be a significant factor next gen. For the price of one year of Live Gold you can buy a Roku today with far better app support, that is silent, launches services instantly and uses a tiny fraction of the power. MS can not expect Crackle or SyFy webisodes to motivate a $400 purchase, let alone an ongoing subscription. Netflix and Hulu were a big hit on consoles because it was an awesome way to use a system you already own for a great service. For that matter, why by a 720 for apps if they're already on the 360 you own? So they'll either need to hope the interest in Kinect hasn't burnt out by the time they launch the new version, and leaning hard on casuals will be problematic if it isn't priced for casuals. Or they can go after the hard core again which will be difficult without the pricing and first to market advantages the 360 enjoyed (nor the ease of development advantage, if rumors are to be believed).

The problem with this reasoning is that you are still arguing that they are positioning this as such a device, instead of looking at it being an all-round service. It plays movies, games, has the apps and the brand recognition – a huge diversive advantage over the other services provided. Whether Microsoft uses this advantage to its straights is questionable, because the competitors have clear advantages.

Their current strategy doesn’t say much about the future though, only thing we know is that much like the 360 they will position it like a all-round device. Take into the account the emerging markets and how long this generation has been going on, it was smart that they experimented with different market with the 360.

[Vinci]

I said this perhaps two years or so now... but... I have a hard time imagining a way in which Nintendo or Sony could keep Microsoft from leading the industry this coming generation. As interested in the Wii U as I am, I don't see it being enough to displace MS's position within the core gamer community or lead to a transition for developers - even if MS were to launch their new system last.

I see no reason to change that earlier forecast at this time.

[Dacvak]

It'd be nice if this thread wasn't filled with such Microsoft wankery and instead actual discussion. I guess to be fair, it's about 50/50, but I'm not willing to sift through it.

[Deadly Joker]

Thread intent: Do you think MS is following a successful business strategy for next gen? Thread delivers: Let me tell you why I like Microsoft with my very narrow viewpoint.

Fixed.

[TheOddOne]

Fixed.

This itself is a very narrow viewpoint and brings nothing to the discussion then a pissing war.

[Deadly Joker]

This itself is a very narrow viewpoint and brings nothing to the discussion then a pissing war.

The point I was trying to make is that it wasn't only Sony fans in here, but also Microsoft diehards that also have narrow viewpoints.

Like Bangai-O and elcranky.

[TheOddOne]

The point I was trying to make is that it wasn't only Sony fans in here, but also Microsoft diehards that also have narrow viewpoints. Like Bangai-O and elcranky.

You have a point, but you are falling in the same line as their thinking. Their comments are extreme, I don't agree with much of them, but countering ignorance with ignorance is meaningless.

[enzo_gt]

It's actually what's keeping MS ahead of the game next gen. Apps mostly. But MS has clear direction it seems, whilst Sony is tripping over themselves and Nintendo is struggling to make the Wii U compelling and is playing catch up on the online front.

Kinect just appears to edge out Move in widespread appeal and innovation, so thinking prospectively, MS is in a better place. But we don't know what Sony has up their sleeve, they're still legitimate competition. A Kinect-like PS Eye would be a bust TBH, unless it offers something the Kinect doesn't, which again I hard to imagine something big enough considering the wealth of capabilities of Kinect already. And stuff restricted by processing power might already be rectified by Kinect 2.0 anyways. In general, I feel like MS just has the least problems going into next gen, from my evaluation of rumours and their current strategies.

My 2c.

[pickle]

lol I'm sorry but that's very shallow and is pretty hypocritical. So it isn't about having core exclusive games... it's about having movie-like action packed core exclusives! If all you want are big budget AAA core games then it shouldn't be a surprise to you as to why MS isn't making them this late into the gen considering how much of a risk it would be financially putting one up against the big name 3rd party games and Halo.

i can only conclude at this point that you are unable to distinguish between an xbla game and a full console game. i liked shadow complex and journey, but they are shorter more limited experiences. but i understand it serves your argument to call retail games movie like michael bay explosion fests. i found your posting ridiculous on team xbox, and this is more of the same.

[REMEMBER CITADEL]

i can only conclude at this point that you are unable to distinguish between an xbla game and a full console game. i liked shadow complex and journey, but they are shorter more limited experiences.

Somebody seems blissfully unaware of the fact that many of today's retail game campaigns are 5-6 hour roller coaster rides. Shadow Complex is a 2009 game, by the way, a lot has changed since then. Even on consoles, games like Virtua Fighter 5 - once a retail release - are moving into the downloadable realm.

[clockpunk]

I'll be very interested to see how Serious Sam 3 does as an XBLA rather than a retail release.

If it does well, I hope it might encouarge other devs to explore that option, and (ideally) keep prices down a little for those titles that can't have a huge budget.

[Captain Tuttle]

Lot's of FUD in here lol

MS isn't going to mess with it's core subscriber base of Xbox Live, that's a money engine for them. At WORST the NextBox will get the same amount of "core" games that it got this gen.

Almost all the talk about MS abandoning core gaming for the casual Kinect crowd is just wishful thinking by fans of other platforms.

[IvanI]

Almost all the talk about MS abandoning core gaming for the casual Kinect crowd is just wishful thinking by fans of other platforms.

No it's not. The facts are here. As a "core" X360 owner (who also owns a PC and a PS3) I do feel that MS has radically shifted it's focus AWAY from us, the core audience. Personally I don't give a shit because I have games to play, BUT I would like to see MS doing the same thing Sony does with it's PS3 exclusives and 1st party studios and that is releasing a bunch of amazing games. That's quality AND quantity.
MS can support Kinect, the casual audience and all those entertainment apps. By all means. But they can do that and support the core a lot more. And no, I don't count the CoD deal with ATVI (which is expired, unless the renewed it) and timed exclusives (Skyrim?) as "supporting the core."

[derFeef]

MS current strategy is prepare for next gen. So no, they will not fail.

[szaromir]

No it's not. The facts are here. As a "core" X360 owner (who also owns a PC and a PS3) I do feel that MS has radically shifted it's focus AWAY from us, the core audience. Personally I don't give a shit because I have games to play, BUT I would like to see MS doing the same thing Sony does with it's PS3 exclusives and 1st party studios and that is releasing a bunch of amazing games. That's quality AND quantity. MS can support Kinect, the casual audience and all those entertainment apps. By all means. But they can do that and support the core a lot more. And no, I don't count the CoD deal with ATVI (which is expired, unless the renewed it) and timed exclusives (Skyrim?) as "supporting the core."

What are you talking about? 360 got two GOTY contenders in April (FEZ and Trials Evo). They certainly do provide content for core gamers. Unless by a 'core' game you mean scripted corridor explosion-fests, but I certainly do not long for them.

[Alx]

No it's not. The facts are here. As a "core" X360 owner (who also owns a PC and a PS3) I do feel that MS has radically shifted it's focus AWAY from us, the core audience. Personally I don't give a shit because I have games to play

But that's the most important point. Microsoft didn't shift its focus away from core gamers, they just didn't need to do more efforts for them on this generation because they're all on board and have all they need (even those who aren't multi-platforms).
It makes more sense for MS to focus all their first party on the next generation, unlike Sony which still needs to invest a lot more first party effort on the current generation to reduce the gap.

[Feindflug]

I primarily game on PC, too, but 360 is actually a great complimentary platform. FEZ and Trials Evo were by far the best 2 games that came out in April, later in the year I am looking forward to Halo 4, Crimson Dragon, Steel Battalion, Mark of The Ninja and probably some other xbla titles. I don't think I play more than 15-20 games a year, so 6-8 titles a year on 360 is enough to justify it for me. At the moment I don't see what Nintendo or Sony are doing better to provide better complimentary platform to be honest.

I was thinking the same thing, well Ninty is focusing on a new system but how exactly is Sony doing any better? are the two games that PS3 has for this fall like PS All Stars & Sly Cooper considered "full fledged games" and not a "supplement" just because they come in blu-rays at 60$? both of these games are lacking in presentation and look quite low budget, in fact they could have easily be downloadable games with a lower price which could possibly result in better sales but instead Sony will try to sell these games at "full fledged" prices.

I don't see why the people that are criticizing MS don't also bitch about PS3's line-up this year, the only game that I doubt will make it this fall that fits the "big games" description of the ones bitching about MS line-up is The Last of Us and that's only one game.

[REMEMBER CITADEL]

Personally I don't give a shit because I have games to play, BUT I would like to see MS doing the same thing Sony does with it's PS3 exclusives and 1st party studios and that is releasing a bunch of amazing games. That's quality AND quantity.

It's perfectly understandable that you may feel that way, Sony's current games appeal to you more. However, it's wrong to assume that all other people, or even the majority, share that sentiment. For instance, most of Sony's games don't really interest me all that much, and looking at both reviews and sales (which signify how many people think those games are worth their money), I just can't see this "bunch of amazing games", I don't see Sony offering both "quality AND quantity". A lot of decent to good games with some standouts, yes, but that's also what I'm getting from Microsoft, only perhaps through other avenues (XBLA, Kinect, third parties, and a few standout first party releases).

[IvanI]

But that's the most important point. Microsoft didn't shift its focus away from core gamers, they just didn't need to do more efforts for them on this generation because they're all on board and have all they need (even those who aren't multi-platforms). It makes more sense for MS to focus all their first party on the next generation, unlike Sony which still needs to invest a lot more first party effort on the current generation to reduce the gap.

wait, what? no, seriously what did you mean by the bold sentence? reduce what gap? PS3 is dominating the X360 in terms of 1st party content and have been for a while now. Hell, the only games I play on my PS3 are the exclusives and I still have a huge backlog. That's why I said that Sony did a great job with PS3 in terms of exclusive content (quality AND quantity). Enough to justify a PS3 purchase. Even a second, exclusive-only platform (like in my case). If that's not enough then I don't know what is...

It's perfectly understandable that you may feel that way, Sony's current games appeal to you more. However, it's wrong to assume that all other people, or even the majority, share that sentiment. For instance, most of Sony's games don't really interest me all that much, and looking at both reviews and sales (which signify how many people think those games are worth their money), I just can't see this "bunch of amazing games", I don't see Sony offering both "quality AND quantity". A lot of decent to good games with some standouts, yes, but that's also what I'm getting from Microsoft, only perhaps through other avenues (XBLA, Kinect, third parties, and a few standout first party releases).

Well of course. Everything I've written is written from the standpoint of a 27 year old guy who plays "core" games 99% of the time with little or no Kinect (and I don't even own a Move).
But I think that, our personal preferences aside, Sony DOES provide great PS3 exclusive games.

[Log4Girlz]

The more casual friendly, the bigger their install base will be. Embracing apps will be crucial to their strategy.

[elcranky]

The point I was trying to make is that it wasn't only Sony fans in here, but also Microsoft diehards that also have narrow viewpoints. Like Bangai-O and elcranky.

That is absolutely hilarious. I probably have one of the most open viewpoints, well other than not liking Nintendo. Even then had Nintendo screwed up the WiiU on the spec front I would have given them their due. I just tend to pipe up on issues that interest me.

I have no dog in the fight between MS and Sony. MS just provides more of the things that I like and has performed far better.

You just don't like the conclusions that the current environment support. Look there aren't very many people in the world as good as I am at business strategy and analysis so if you disagree with me, then the odds are you need to reexamine your conclusion.

[Ledsen]

I'm sure it works fine in the US, but everywhere else where we don't have any of the useful services like Netflix, it's just a gaming machine with tons of pointless menus.

[IvanI]

I'm sure it works fine in the US, but everywhere else where we don't have any of the useful services like Netflix, it's just a gaming machine with tons of pointless menus.

oh yes, THIS. FUCKING THIS. I cannot stress enough this fact.
Everytime I see something "awesome" announced for the X360 in terms of entertainment apps I basically feel like this:



and that's why I feel how I feel about MS (see a couple of posts above) because games are all I have with X360 (and probably NextBox).

[KageMaru]

It's amazing this thread is still going when we don't know anything about next Gen. This isn't the first time a company has expanded it's focus late in the generation and it won't be the last. For all we know the camera in that Orbis rumor is true and Sony will be in the same situation as MS.

We just don't know, but people want to jump to conclusions anyway.

Both companies are rumored to have a number of teams working on next Gen games. The doom and gloom mentality is unwarranted when it's just directed to one company.

[REMEMBER CITADEL]

Well of course. Everything I've written is written from the standpoint of a 27 year old guy who plays "core" games 99% of the time with little or no Kinect (and I don't even own a Move).

And everything I've written is written from the standpoint of a 32 year old guy who plays "core" games 95% of the time, I don't know what's your point.

But I think that, our personal preferences aside, Sony DOES provide great PS3 exclusive games.

I know you think that, you already said that. I also think that Sony provides some great exclusive games, just not nearly as many as you and some other people think.

oh yes, THIS. FUCKING THIS. I cannot stress enough this fact. Everytime I see something "awesome" announced for the X360 in terms of entertainment apps I basically feel like this: and that's why I feel how I feel about MS (see a couple of posts above) because games are all I have with X360 (and probably NextBox).

You are right about that, however, next gen they really need to change their approach to the rest of the world.

By the way, I'm also from Croatia.

[Captain Tuttle]

You just don't like the conclusions that the current environment support. Look there aren't very many people in the world as good as I am at business strategy and analysis so if you disagree with me, then the odds are you need to reexamine your conclusion.

lol

[REMEMBER CITADEL]

lol

It's Pachter's alt.

[CadetMahoney]

Microsoft is doomed threads are so wierd. Like when a Sony is doomed thread happens it is usually about studios closing down and losing billions of dollars or games taking 6 years to develop. A Microsoft doomed thread is about xbox live having millions of subscribers and selling the most units.

I think it's SonyGAF simply repeating lack of exclusives as hurting MS - doomed! Except the PS3 exclusives aren't the best examples of a strategy that has made a big difference in sales. Why is anyone's guess. My guess is ppl simply don't care for games like Uncharted and KZ2 is nothing to write home about.

If anything we've learned from this gen is that exclusives late into a gen matter less than earlier. Look at MGS4 - saw a significant hardware push.

[Alx]

wait, what? no, seriously what did you mean by the bold sentence? reduce what gap? PS3 is dominating the X360 in terms of 1st party content and have been for a while now.

It's a race to market shares, not a race to "who has the best first party content". What I meant is that right now Sony can't afford to let MS have too big a domination on the US market (ie the biggest market), even if both consoles are more or less equivalent on a worldwide level. With the new generation approaching, they must be sure that their image will be as positive as possible, and they're counting on their first parties for that.
MS on the other side is a step ahead, they're in the better position in the US, seem ok with their status in Europe, so they can focus their first parties on the next generation instead of struggling for this one ; and they can count on less risky moves like sequels, XBLA games and third parties to keep making profit with the 360 (plus kinect, which is probably both a quick cash-in now and a long term strategy for the next generation).

[LukasTaves]

Sure, their competitors also release sequels, that's really not a problem (no one is really complaining that they get to play more games that they love, like Halo). But their competitors simply have many more games by comparison, and are STILL investing in new IP (LBP:K, StarHawk, and PS-AllStars this year alone).

Isn't this the exact same thing Ms has done before with Halo wars and is doing now with Fable Heroes, Forza Horizon and Fable Journey?

[Castef]

I love my 360 but I have a felling Im no longer the type of consumer that MS is looking for to me this do not look good for nextgen and I dont think they can keep the no 1 spot in the us if they continue down this road next gen

Actually i think that their current strategy is applied because we are at the end of the generation.

I don't think they'll go in the next-gen with just Kinect and Apps in their mind. They know why they sold so many console and most probably they will re-iterate that strategy.

[tinfoilhatman]

Lot's of FUD in here lol MS isn't going to mess with it's core subscriber base of Xbox Live, that's a money engine for them. At WORST the 360 will get the same amount of "core" games that it got this gen. Almost all the talk about MS abandoning core gaming for the casual Kinect crowd is just wishful thinking by fans of other platforms.

THIS

and they don't even do a good job of covering it up with a logical\realistic argument, pretty pathetic.

[Speedymanic]

Lot's of FUD in here lol MS isn't going to mess with it's core subscriber base of Xbox Live, that's a money engine for them. At WORST the 360 will get the same amount of "core" games that it got this gen. Almost all the talk about MS abandoning core gaming for the casual Kinect crowd is just wishful thinking by fans of other platforms.

360 am the greetest, but MS will abandon core gaming next gen for no raisin.

[nasos_333]

I get to play more games on 360 this year than most

Witcher 2, Forza, Trials Evolution, Alan Wake AN, Fable Journey, Halo 4, Mass Effect 3, Skyrim expansions, Steel Batallion, Crimson Dragon, Dust Elysian Tale, Deadlight, Haunt, Battleblock Theater etc etc

Probably Ryse from Crytek too and i still play Gears 3 and Dark Souls as well

Frankly i think MS is doing better than ever in the games department and using Kinect to bring novelty too

They are definatly focused on games and Kinect games, it is still all about the games

Having some options in apps is not taking anything away, i definatly did not enjoy Witcher 2 or Mass Effect 3 less because of that and i am sure will have a blast with Halo 4 as well

I dont see how their strategy has changed at all, they are still offering amazing games

If i get to play Witcher 3, Elder Scrolls 6, Mass Effect 4, Gears 4, Halo 5, Forza 5, Fable 4, Dark Souls 2, Alan Wake 2, Lost Odyssey 2, Ryse 2 etc near xbox 720 launch, i think will be extremely pleased right there

But I think that, our personal preferences aside, Sony DOES provide great PS3 exclusive games.

There is no point in debating opinion, not every single person likes the same games

I agree that Sony provides some amazing exclusives, but for me they are Demons Souls, Folklore, Heavy Rain etc and not the hyped ones like Uncharted, since i dont care much for linear shooting

I too play core games mostly, but the deeper kind like RPGs and not shooters, the ultra core ones

In the end it is all opinion, 360 does provide great exclusives too and that is also a fact from my point of view and maybe more than Sony as well

Witcher 2 for example was huge for me this year, cant have enough of it

I cant wait for Ni no Kuni in 2013 on PS3 as well, each system has its own games to like

[SmokyDave]

I think MS will take the crown next time around. They seem to have all the bases covered. Can't say as I'm terribly happy about it as I live outside the US and refuse to pay for online. Still, gotta hand it to them, they're great at what they do.